My girlfriends awesome budget build in a 2004 OEM case.

[NicolaZanarini]

Hey guys!

Let's starts from outside:

The case is from an old ACER Aspire E500 - since it held sentimental value for my GF it was left untouched.

And now the inside:

Upgraded all the old LGA parts with the following:

CPU: Intel Pentium G3258 @4.2GHz
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33
CPU cooler: EVO Tx3
RAM: 8GB DDR3 @1333MHz Corsair Value RAM 
GPU: MSI GTX750Ti Twin Frozr 2GB
SSD: Kingston SSD Now V300 60GB
HDD: 1x160GB HDD + 1x500GB HDD
PSU: Thermaltake Munich 430W 80 Plus 
CD/DVD reader/writer
Monitor: Asus 19" 1440x900p monitor
Mouse: Arma Templarius
Keyboard: Wireless Keyboard

The hardest part was cable management, but I must say I am pretty proud of it

What do you guys think?


 

[Theguywhobea]

Nice, I really love sleeper type computers like that!

[NicolaZanarini]

Nice, I really love sleeper type computers like that!

They are great aren't they?

And while ti does take more effort to cable manage, I also think it's more rewarding in the end

[TheSLSAMG]

I love it, would really like to get my hands on an old beige OEM case and put some nice hardware in it.

 

Even better, it's from the guy who designed the Defcon One.

[emachado99]

Haha that's awesome! Good job

[NicolaZanarini]

I love it, would really like to get my hands on an old beige OEM case and put some nice hardware in it.

 

Even better, it's from the guy who designed the Defcon One.

The good old yellowish cases, so many memories!

Oh wow! you recognized me!  

[Gofspar]

I wish I had the case from a Power Mac G4, If I did it'd do a motherboard rotation and dremel a side panel in and move my system from a 450D to the G4. @CtW

[NicolaZanarini]

Haha that's awesome! Good job

Thanks man real proud of the cable management

[NicolaZanarini]

I wish I had the case from a Power Mac G4, If I did it'd do a motherboard rotation and dremel a side panel in and move my system from a 450D to the G4. @CtW

That would indeed be a sweet mod!

[Hans Christian | Teri]

Nice, I really love sleeper type computers like that!

 

Sleeper -> Full of stickers and blue light.....wat.

[NicolaZanarini]

Sleeper -> Full of stickers and blue light.....wat.

Well, the case is a 2004 Acer E500 - I did add the stickers since she liked them, as well as the LEDs

Still, the case is a real old and crappy one  x)

[lukky211111]

people on this forum have girlfriends and relationships? wat?! jk

[NicolaZanarini]

people on this forum have girlfriends and relationships? wat?! jk

Hahaha, i know right? incredible! I guess her liking videogames helps a lot

[lukky211111]

Hahaha, i know right? incredible! I guess her liking videogames helps a lot

put a ring on it mate!

[NicolaZanarini]

put a ring on it mate!

I most certainly will!

[lukky211111]

I most certainly will!

whats with the lil bell on the desk? does she ring it and you come running?

[NicolaZanarini]

whats with the lil bell on the desk? does she ring it and you come running?

LOL - for one I don't recall there being any bells on there, where do you see it?

And nop, I don't play "doormat" if that what you meant - I just enjoy doing stuff for her I know she will appreciate

[lukky211111]

LOL - for one I don't recall there being any bells on there, where do you see it?

And nop, I don't play "doormat" if that what you meant - I just enjoy doing stuff for her I know she will appreciate

oh wait....its a pen.... my bad! and no it was a joke cuz i swore i saw a bell by the left speaker and thats good mate

[NicolaZanarini]

oh wait....its a pen.... my bad! and no it was a joke cuz i swore i saw a bell by the left speaker and thats good mate

Ah i see! hahaha, all good man, no worries

 

[kkpatel87]

-snip-

 

Nice sleeper!

 

I know you put a ton of effort into cleaning up the wiring but it still could use another pass.

[NicolaZanarini]

Nice sleeper!

 

I know you put a ton of effort into cleaning up the wiring but it still could use another pass.

Thank you

Might look like it from the pics, but trust me, that's as clean as it gets - 

Non-modular PSU, barely any cable management space in the case (again, crappy old Acer case) and component spacing don't allow to tighten it much more  

Still, I'd like to hear what your suggestion was

[NicolaZanarini]

{EDIT}

[Naruke Alpha]

Question thought, why not get an evga 750, with a small pcb? just wondering

[NicolaZanarini]

Question thought, why not get an evga 750, with a small pcb? just wondering

 

Well, for one the 750Ti is a good deal better, plus I got this one for like 120 euros shipped - it was a display model that was never actually used, just was out of the box

[kkpatel87]

Thank you

Might look like it from the pics, but trust me, that's as clean as it gets - 

Non-modular PSU, barely any cable management space in the case (again, crappy old Acer case) and component spacing don't allow to tighten it much more  

Still, I'd like to hear what your suggestion was

 

Well here is what i think you could do to improve it. You are right though non-modular PSUs are a pain to deal with.

 

1. The harness that runs nearly parallel with the drive cage...just making that harness run exactly parallel to the edge will clean it up significantly.

2. On the back, make all the runs as straight as possible. One thing i do is layout routes and group my harnesses on the routes...in your case it may not be possible but give it might.